Five women more newsworthy than Miley

Jessica Rinaldi / Associated Press

The brilliant 16-year-old Pakistani teen, who defied the Taliban by championing education for girls, was awarded the European Union's top human rights prize on Thursday. It's a stunning accomplishment for the girl who, just last year, survived an assassination attempt. (She was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but the award went to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.) In a letter to the editor, Kate Zabinsky contrasted "the immaturity of quibbling American statesmen" with the young Malala, saying "she has done more to legitimize the 'war on terror' than any politicians in Washington." And earlier this week on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart asked if he could adopt Malala, now a celebrated international figure, during this much-buzzed-about interview in which she talked about standing up to the Taliban "through peace and through dialogue and through education." But, a note of caution from The Times' Paul Whitefield: Too much Western praise may not be safe for Malala.

The brilliant 16-year-old Pakistani teen, who defied the Taliban by championing education for girls, was awarded the European Union's top human rights prize on Thursday. It's a stunning accomplishment for the girl who, just last year, survived an assassination attempt. (She was also nominated for the Nobel Peace Prize, but the award went to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.) In a letter to the editor, Kate Zabinsky contrasted "the immaturity of quibbling American statesmen" with the young Malala, saying "she has done more to legitimize the 'war on terror' than any politicians in Washington." And earlier this week on "The Daily Show," Jon Stewart asked if he could adopt Malala, now a celebrated international figure, during this much-buzzed-about interview in which she talked about standing up to the Taliban "through peace and through dialogue and through education." But, a note of caution from The Times' Paul Whitefield: Too much Western praise may not be safe for Malala. (Jessica Rinaldi / Associated Press)

President Obama nominated Janet Yellen to head the Federal Reserve on Wednesday. "It was a historic choice," wrote The Times' editorial board of the news. "Yellen would be the first woman to lead the Fed in its 100-year history." What's more: "Yellen, a former UC Berkeley economics professor and San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank president, has a particular expertise in unemployment and labor markets. That's helpful for a Fed chair, given that the central bank's monetary policy is required by law to serve two ends: keeping prices stable and promoting full employment. She also brings credibility to the job of combating inflation, having been a strong advocate of the Fed's move to explicit targets for inflation. Those targets help manage the public expectations that can drive price and wage growth." That's not all. She's "expected to be tougher than [Ben] Bernanke on the big Wall Street banks that the Fed regulates," the board says. Plus an extra bonus point, as Op-Ed editor Sue Horton pointed out: "She's a powerful woman with gray hair."

President Obama nominated Janet Yellen to head the Federal Reserve on Wednesday. "It was a historic choice," wrote The Times' editorial board of the news. "Yellen would be the first woman to lead the Fed in its 100-year history." What's more: "Yellen, a former UC Berkeley economics professor and San Francisco Federal Reserve Bank president, has a particular expertise in unemployment and labor markets. That's helpful for a Fed chair, given that the central bank's monetary policy is required by law to serve two ends: keeping prices stable and promoting full employment. She also brings credibility to the job of combating inflation, having been a strong advocate of the Fed's move to explicit targets for inflation. Those targets help manage the public expectations that can drive price and wage growth." That's not all. She's "expected to be tougher than [Ben] Bernanke on the big Wall Street banks that the Fed regulates," the board says. Plus an extra bonus point, as Op-Ed editor Sue Horton pointed out: "She's a powerful woman with gray hair." (Charles Dharapak / Associated Press)

Pop singer Miley Cyrus has dominated headlines this fall with her twerking, nudity and naiveté. Sometimes, she seems to have captured our collective attention for doing nothing at all. Which is why it was such a refreshing break this week to have so many prominent and accomplished women grab headlines. This is a toast to them. -- Alexandra Le Tellier